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Cornell College

Mount Vernon, Iowa · Private nonprofit · 4-year · Town

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At a glance

Average net price
$23,634What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
80%
Graduation rate
67%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
1,086
In-state tuition
$52,660Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$52,660
SAT midpoint
1,280
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$53,460Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against private nonprofit 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$23,634

Better than 44% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1092 compared).

Completion

67%

Better than 67% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1063 compared).

Earnings

$53,460

Better than 47% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1087 compared).

Debt at graduation

$27,000

Better than 4% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1020 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$66,249

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$23,634

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

What would this cost me?
Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Cornell College
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time67%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return80%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$27,000
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$53,460

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Cornell College by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$42,75611
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods$42,12724
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology$39,16416
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$35,43918
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies$18,2419
Computer ScienceNot reported15
Fine and Studio ArtsNot reported13
Engineering, GeneralNot reported11
Biology, GeneralNot reported11
Finance and Financial Management ServicesNot reported8
HistoryNot reported7
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNot reported6
Psychology, GeneralNot reported6
Political Science and GovernmentNot reported6
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported5
Clinical, Counseling and Applied PsychologyNot reported5
ChemistryNot reported4
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherNot reported4
Applied StatisticsNot reported4
Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesNot reported4
International Relations and National Security StudiesNot reported4
Sociology and AnthropologyNot reported3
Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchNot reported3
Religion/Religious StudiesNot reported3
Research and Experimental PsychologyNot reported3
LiteratureNot reported3
Classical and Ancient StudiesNot reported3
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported2
PhilosophyNot reported2
MusicNot reported2
PhysicsNot reported2
Business/Managerial EconomicsNot reported2
MathematicsNot reported2
SociologyNot reported1
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftNot reported1
AnthropologyNot reported1
Engineering ScienceNot reported1
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasNot reported1
Data ScienceNot reported1
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesNot reportedNot reported
Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reportedNot reported
English Language and Literature, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reportedNot reported
EconomicsNot reportedNot reported
Area StudiesNot reportedNot reported
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population BiologyNot reportedNot reported
Human Resources Management and ServicesNot reportedNot reported
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and PolicyNot reportedNot reported

All 48 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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